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Knowledge Management Systems
for the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics
Program (ACCSP), NOAA
ICF International helped the U.S. National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) define,
develop, and implement a massive data
warehouse and Web-based data analysis system that allows
fishery managers and biologists to analyze unified,
coastal data sets and provides them with better
data and the ability to make improved decisions.
For the ACCSP (a consortium of 22 federal, state,
and regional agencies responsible for managing
U.S. Atlantic coastal fisheries), we developed
a data warehouse combining fishery data collected
by each federal and state agency and permitting
data access through an easy-to-use, Web-based
analytical interface, which allows fishery experts
on the East Coast to analyze comprehensive fishery
data in real-time.
Environmental Profiler Application,
Center for Environmental Information and Statistics,
EPA
ICF International developed an interactive Web application
allowing the public to access information and
generate "profiles" of selected geography-specific
environmental information. The information is
drawn from several EPA databases to provide a
snapshot of environmental quality, status, and
trends for a chosen geography. Users select the
geographic region of interest and then the profile
they would like to see, such as air quality, surface
water, drinking water, toxic chemical releases,
or hazardous waste.
Web-Based Tracking System,
Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), NOAA
ICF International designed, developed, and maintains
a Web-based tracking system to manage the interactions
between marine mammals and commercial fishing.
The site includes a variety of ways to view data
and a filtering capability to help users locate
information, as well as the ability to generate
numerous reports including registration forms,
mailing labels, authorization certificates, and
management reports.
Coastal
Zone Management and Environmental Support, the
Bahamas Environment, Science, and Technology
Commission
ICF International supports
the Government of the Bahamas in developing its environmental laws
and regulations and establishing a 'national
ministry for the environment' to support expanded
economic development. We are conducting environmental
impact assessments, coastal zone management planning,
environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation,
emergency management, and public awareness programs
in the island chain.
Environmental Impact Assessment
and Mitigation Plan for Coastal Environments,
Bocas del Toro Province (Panama)
ICF International prepared the Environmental Impact
Assessment, Community Participation Plan, and
Environmental Action and Mitigation Plan (including
a framework for a regional development plan) for
the proposed 80-km road. We conducted an in-depth
environmental analysis and developed a complete
public participation process in order to update
existing environmental information, fill any important
gaps of impact analysis, and specify the necessary
mitigation and compensation measures. The most
important aspects of the environmental and socioeconomic
evaluation were the potential impacts to various
sensitive coastal environments and tropical forest
ecosystems, public relations with the recently
established Comarca (lands owned by indigenous
communities), physical impacts of erosion, socioeconomic
impacts of induced development, and the opposition
to the construction of the road from various national
and international NGOs. Learn more about ICF International's
experience in performing
Environmental Impact Assessments.
Public-Private Partnership
to Protect Vast Fresh-Water Reserve, State of
Amazonas, Brazil
ICF International coordinated participation of
various public and private organizations in the
preventing of, planning for, responding to, and
recovering from damage hazards related to oil
spills and other environmental accidents that
could endanger the enormous fresh water reserve
in Amazonas, Brazil, which constitutes one-fifth
of the planet's entire reserves. Learn
more about emergency
management planning in Brazil.
Pro-Northeast Brazil Economic
Development Initiative, World Bank and Northeast
Brazil States
ICF International carried out a three-state collaborative
economic
strategy process that involved an assessment
of the strengths and weaknesses of industries
in nine states of the Northeast. Focusing on three
of the nine coastal states—Bahia, Ceara,
and Pernambuco—ICF International completed a
benchmarking process to determine the competitive
position of each of these states in their strongest
industries. A collaborative working group process
in each of the three states was also initiated.
These working groups responded to market opportunities
defined by the project team and identified shared
competitive challenges and action strategies to
enhance the depth and breadth of their industries.
One of the main outcomes of this assignment was
a tourism strategy for all three states, which
was integrated into the broader Pro-Northeast
Brazil Competitiveness Strategy. Learn more about
our Economic
Development expertise.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Web Portal, Prince of Wales International Business
Leaders Forum
The Forum required a dynamic Web-publishing portal to be a gateway to the topic
of social responsibility and to provide an introduction to the Forum itself.
ICF International applied Web-based workflow tools that ensured partners across
the globe could publish quality, approved content without Web development or
HTML skills. This new technology, part of ICF International's WebAssist®, provides
clients with a powerful and scalable development platform while reducing the
cost of updating and maintaining content. ICF International's WebAssist® also
includes a Discussion Factor® that allows client staff to easily create open-ended
or mediated, on-line dialogues with a variety of participants. Learn more about
ICF International's Web
Development and Social
Marketing capabilities and experience. |
Mapping Coastal Land Loss
Due to Climate Change, EPA
ICF International helped the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) understand which lands
would likely be lost as a result of changes
in sea level due to global warming. We analyzed
the entire Atlantic and Gulf Coasts for low-lying
lands and developed a series of programs to model
and display the results of sea-level rise scenarios
and related wetland scenarios, combined with
local shoreline protection strategies. The results
identified areas along the Eastern
Seaboard and Gulf Coast at risk of being inundated
by heightened water levels, enabling EPA to
target limited resources to vulnerable areas,
prepare adaptation plans, raise awareness, and
clearly communicate the need to adapt to the
public.
Public Relations/Outreach
Support and Web Development, PADEP
ICF International provided more than $20 million
of public
relations and marketing support to assist
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
in reaching out to businesses and the general
public to promote initiatives that not only protect
the environment but strengthen the state's economy
and provide for a sustainable future. Support
included marketing research, communications strategy
development, event planning, media outreach, creative
materials development, and Web
site development. ICF International developed
the Pennsylvania SiteFinder Web site (www.pasitefinder.state.pa.us).
This site matches potential sellers and buyers
of land in an interactive B2B Web site. The GIS
component to this site spatially displays
relevant land use information to potential sellers
on sites they choose, with information such as
modes of transportation access to the site, wetland
designations, etc. Learn more about ICF International's
Strategic
Communications capabilities and experience
and the IT and Communications awards
received for the PADEP Land Recycling Program.
Infrastructure Disaster Response
and Recovery, FEMA
ICF International is part of a FEMA team that carries
out its Public Assistance Program. Our nationwide
team of scientists, economists, geologists, environmental
planners, and other experts provide FEMA with
technical assistance in responding to a flood,
hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or other natural
or man-made event. We also support FEMA in preparing
handbooks, criteria guidelines, client surveys,
and Damage Survey Reports, which we develop jointly
and in cooperation with state and local personnel.
Learn more about ICF International's Homeland
Security, Emergency
Management Program Development, and Critical
Infrastructure Protection experience.
Brownfields Partnership,
South Florida
ICF International supported EPA in a partnership
with the Florida Department of Community Affairs,
the South Florida Regional Planning Council, and
other local players to facilitate redevelopment
in Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties. ICF International inventoried federal, state and local
governments to support a GIS
analysis and assisted EPA in evaluating its
role as a federal agency in supporting the partnership.
Regional Competitiveness
Strategy, Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
ICF International developed a comprehensive economic
strategy for diversifying the economy in the
Greater Baton Rouge area to help ensure a more
prosperous future. The initiative encompassed
a four-phase process of mobilization (briefings
and outreach), diagnosis (systematic analysis
of regional performance), collaborative strategy
process (three rounds of cluster working groups),
and development of an implementation strategy
(management structure for supporting industry
networks, action initiatives, regional flagships,
and regional performance monitoring). Many community
leaders and stakeholders participated in the process
and contributed to the strategic action plans.
Learn more about our Economic
Development expertise.
Coastal Consistency Determinations
As required
by the Coastal Zone Management Act, ICF International
has prepared coastal consistency determinations
for Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) candidate
expansion sites in states with approved coastal
zone management programs. Our results address
specific impacts to environmental and community
resources in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Coastal Development and Water Quality Impact Analysis
For the city of Cancún, Mexico, ICF International
developed recommendations on how to decrease nutrient
levels and oxygen depletion in waters adjacent
to a development. We also analyzed engineering
designs using numerical modeling techniques and
evaluated runoff, tidal influx, channel configurations,
and induced water pumping.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Fisheries
Statistics and Economics Division
ICF International
helped the Fisheries Statistics and Economics Division
develop options for implementing a national fisheries
information and vessel registration system. After
facilitating meetings of the system’s
core design team and collecting and analyzing system
data from various state-based fishery management
agencies, we assisted in the production of report
documents for the NMFS Report to Congress on system
implementation. As contemplated in the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Atlantic
component of this national system will be comprised
of the information system and user interface developed
by ICF International for the ACCSP, a consortium of
22 federal, state, and regional agencies responsible
for managing U.S. Atlantic coastal fisheries.
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